The Beautiful Pretender (A Medieval Fairy Tale #2)(86)

“Lord Thornbeck, did you kill your brother?”

“No, Your Majesty.”

“And did you allow a woman to poach deer in Thornbeck Forest?”

“No, Your Majesty, I did not allow it. When she was discovered poaching, she was punished. She has since turned from her lawlessness and is respectably married to my chancellor.”

“And as for Geitbart’s final accusation, did you choose to wife a maidservant over several young—and I imagine fair of face and form—ladies of this realm who were of noble birth?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I did.”

Would he not explain that he had thought she was the daughter of the Earl of Plimmwald?

“And now, I should like to hear from this young woman, Avelina of Plimmwald, is it? Lady Magdalen of Mallin seems to think very highly of you.”

Lady Magdalen. Of course. How else would the king have heard about her? Lady Magdalen and the king must have crossed paths on their journeys.

“Is it true that you pretended to be the earl’s daughter, Lady Dorothea? And that she ran away with a knight in her father’s service?”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty.” She could hardly lie to the king.

“And did you intend to marry Lord Thornbeck?”

“No, I was simply supposed to strengthen the alliance between Plimmwald and Thornbeck by coming here and pretending to be Lady Dorothea.”

“Was Lord Plimmwald so desperate to strengthen his alliance with Lord Thornbeck that he would go to such lengths of deception?”

“He was afraid, Your Majesty, that the Duke of Geitbart was planning to attack and overtake Plimmwald. He said he needed the margrave’s help if that should happen.” Avelina’s breath was leaving her. She must not think about the fact that she was speaking to the king and emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

“I see. And were you at all afraid that Lord Thornbeck might wish to marry you? Did this possibility not occur to you?”

“Not at first. I . . .” She shrugged. Was it bad form to shrug at the king? Her cheeks burned.

He studied her. “What was to be your reward for deceiving Lord Thornbeck?”

She swallowed. Perhaps she was soon to follow Geitbart to the dungeon. “I was to receive a dowry so I could marry.” Should she tell him about the goose and the side of pork she had asked for?

“So you did not want to be a maidservant all your life and wanted to marry.” He stroked his beard again. “Lady Magdalen told me that you saved Lord Thornbeck from being captured by Geitbart’s men. You ran ahead of his guards and warned him. Is this true?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because I . . .”

“And how did Lord Thornbeck emerge from the dungeon just as I was arriving? How did he get free?”

“I unlocked the doors.”

“And how did she do this clever feat? Lord Thornbeck?”

“She sneaked into the dungeon while the guards were fetching the bread for the prisoners and unlocked the door of my cell with a little instrument.”

“You picked the lock.” The king was staring at her again.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He suddenly burst out laughing, then nodded. He leaned forward, staring at Lord Thornbeck. “She passed all your tests, better than the other ladies, did she not?”

“Yes, sire.”

“Would you say you found her to be the most noble of all the ladies who were here for your bride selection?”

“I would.”

“She is obviously very clever. She is the one you chose, and therefore I give you my blessing to marry her. And after all the clever, courageous things she has done, I shall commission my troubadours to write a song lauding the deeds of Avelina of Plimmwald, the wife of the Margrave of Thornbeck. She is a jewel among the women of the empire, and you could not do better, Thornbeck.”

Had he truly said what she thought he had said? She turned to look at Lord Thornbeck. His eyes gleamed and he smiled.

“Thornbeck, I require a bath and a feast. Traveling makes me dirty and famished.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.” Lord Thornbeck escorted the king from the Great Hall to show him to his room and, no doubt, to order a bath brought to his bedchamber.

Avelina stared after them. The king had blessed her marriage—marriage—to Lord Thornbeck. The king had called her, Avelina, clever and courageous. Could it be true? Was she only dreaming?

“Are you well, my lady?” Sir Klas stood at her side. “Shall I take you back to your chamber?”

“That will not be necessary. I am well, and I know the way.” She smiled and nearly laughed. Perhaps the numbness and disbelief were wearing off a bit.

She climbed the stairs, wishing with all her heart that Lady Magdalen were here so she could thank her. Lady Magdalen had “spoken highly” of her and had told the king how Avelina had saved Lord Thornbeck. Lady Magdalen must be the reason he spoke so favorably to her—spoke to her at all—and sanctioned her marriage to Lord Thornbeck.

“May God bless you, Lady Magdalen,” she whispered when she was safely in her bedchamber again. She lay across her bed, hugging her pillow. “May He bless you a thousand . . . thousand times over.”





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